NEWS ANALYSIS: More than a year after the Vatican-mandated changes, the U.S. women religious leaders’ group appears uninterested in complying.

ANN CAREY

When the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) met in its annual assembly Aug. 13-16 in Orlando, Fla., the main topic of business was how the sisters would respond to a 2012 mandate of reform from the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). The LCWR is a canonically erected superiors’ organization of nearly 1,400 sisters who are leaders of about 80% of the women religious in this country.

Interest in their 2013 assembly was heightened by the presence of the Vatican’s apostolic delegate charged with conducting the reform, Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle. He had offered to attend the LCWR 2012 assembly to discuss the mandate that had come out April 18 of that year, but had been told then by LCWR leaders that his presence “would not be helpful.”

This year, Archbishop Sartain addressed the entire membership in a closed session and fielded questions about the mandate from LCWR members. He also met with the LCWR’s 21-member national board during the first of three days of board meetings after the assembly closed.

However, the only decision announced by LCWR in an Aug. 19 press release was simply to continue talking with Archbishop Sartain and Bishops Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Ill., and Leonard Blair of Toledo, Ohio, who the Vatican appointed to assist him.

Now the question is: How long is the CDF willing to have the apostolic delegates continue those conversations when the LCWR has not yet agreed to any of the reforms mandated in the doctrinal assessment?

That eight-page mandate is very explicit and readily available on the Internet, even though some LCWR members have claimed that they don’t know the details of the document. Among issues identified in the mandate are areas of “corporate dissent,” “serious theological, even doctrinal errors,” various “theological interpretations that risk distorting faith in Jesus and his loving Father” and commentaries that “undermine the revealed doctrines of the Holy Trinity, the divinity of Christ and the inspiration of sacred Scripture.”

The mandate directs the bishop delegates to take no more than five years to direct a revision of the LCWR’s statutes; review and reform LCWR plans and programs; create LCWR programs to help member congregations receive deeper formation in Church doctrine; review and guide application of liturgical norms and texts; and review LCWR links with the affiliated organizations NETWORK and Resource Center for Religious Institutes.

Reportedly, several meetings and/or teleconferences between the bishop delegates and LCWR leaders took place over the past year, but no information has leaked out. From all indications, none of the mandated reforms have yet begun, even something as simple as taking the LCWR "Systems Thinking Handbook " off the LCWR website. The CDF mandate had directed that publication to be “withdrawn from circulation, pending revision.”

Rather, this sentence in the Aug. 19 LCWR press release indicates that the sisters continue to look for a “third way” to avoid reform of the LCWR while still retaining status as a canonically erected superiors’ organization:

“Although we remain uncertain as to how our work with the bishop delegates will proceed, we maintain hope that continued conversations of this depth will lead to a resolution of this situation that maintains the integrity of LCWR and is healthy for the whole Church.”

A similar message was issued at the end of the LCWR 2012 assembly: “The [LCWR] officers will proceed with these discussions [with the apostolic delegates] as long as possible, but will reconsider if LCWR is forced to compromise the integrity of its mission.”

In an interview a month before that 2012 assembly, then-LCWR president, Franciscan Sister Pat Farrell, said that the LCWR might not be able to comply with the mandate, and if that is the case, would remove itself from canonical status and form a separate organization. She said she hoped a “third way” could be found “that refuses to just define the mandate and the issues in such black-and-white terms.”

The outgoing 2013 LCWR president, Franciscan Sister Florence Deacon, also revealed something about the mindset of the current LCWR leadership.

The press release for the 2013 assembly included an excerpt from her presidential address in which she said that, relative to the doctrinal assessment, the LCWR’s “situation reflects larger questions and concerns,” including “understandings of authority, faithful dissent and obedience and the need for spaces where honest, probing questions about faith and belief can be raised and discussed.”

It would seem that dialogue about doctrinal matters with the Vatican delegates will be very challenging when the sisters claim the right to “faithful dissent” and their own understandings of faith, ecclesial authority and religious obedience.

I am somewhat confused in regards to dissent and other remarks in our One Catholic and Apostolic Church in regards to our Leaders. What I am trying to say is I was taught by Polish Nuns so deeply imbued with the deep Faith all Catholics should Really have. As I read and followed Poland through Nazi occupation and then the Communist “No God” situation. What did I see? A strong bulwark of Faith of those people which never was lost as yet! Where did those priests get there Seminary education under such situations. Strong priests emerged especially the Marvelous Pope John Paul II now Blessed and soon to be Canonized along with Blessed John 23rd. Educated in secret places in homes just supposedly having a good time playing some game in case they were caught. One of these priests who told his story, “We somehow managed in attics and basements!” Crucifixes were removed from the schools. Most of you know the rest as the whole of Poland came to a real standstill. No crucifixes for the children, no work or cooperation. They really meant it and somehow won a war against those who tried so hard to rob the people of their Faith in God. Catholism was still the Polish Religion. Divine Providence never let these people down. Why? At tremendous sacrifices and deep Faith in their God and His Mother prevailed. There is not enough room to speak in regards to the many instances when Communism failed and Faith prevailed. I may be a descendant from France but am I ever proud of those marvelous Polish Sister Teachers who taught us in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades. We may have moved to a farm but memories of those Religious classes and Religious story times will never leave me! I am a Franciscan and wow we have another Francis not as a founder but Vicar of Christ. He is still right there with the poor and marginalized and shunning anything not belonging to a Franciscan plus performing the works of Francis of Assisi.

Posted by Carol LaSalle on Friday, Aug, 23, 2013 12:27 AM (EST):

Like any 5 year plan there should be well defined short, medium and long term goals with dates for completion. No more of this ‘dialoguing.’ This group has done more harm to their individual communities and the Church as a whole than any other I can think of. They have purposefully decimated religious life for women in the Church.

One of the opening sentences to the effect that LCWR leaders told an Archbishop that his presence wouldn’t be helpful pretty much says it all. Discipline is in order and every member should be required to agree to it in writing or be removed from their order.

Posted by Richard on Thursday, Aug, 22, 2013 9:56 PM (EST):

Pope Paul V1 said that without devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary our faith in Jesus and his Church will become impoverished and compromised. The above postings say nothing about Mary the Mother of the Church

Posted by Jim on Wednesday, Aug, 21, 2013 9:32 PM (EST):

If the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) had any interest in complying with 2012 Vatican-mandated reforms from the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) concerning their religious life practices, there would never have been a need for a review of these religious order prior to issuing the Holy See’s report.

Here you are witnessing a deep undercurrent from many, but not all of these orders, of a hostile, arrogant, rebellion against the Church, its divinely-granted authority to teach, a willingness to compromise with the pervasive secular liberalism now dominant in this country but poison to the spiritual life. This precipitated the review of religious orders. The Father of Lies knows exactly what he is doing.

I am just grateful for the many flourishing orders of sisters who love the Church, its teachings, the spiritual life, and the calling to a deep prayer life and love for God and Man, as played out in their various roles. They embody unwavering loyalty to Christ, His Church, and to its leaders He has placed in authority. When I went to grade school before most all moral consensus in the US collapsed in favor of anarchy, I would never have dreamed of such extreme contempt. God help us.

Posted by al on Wednesday, Aug, 21, 2013 1:09 PM (EST):

The fact that these women have not been formally excommunicated long ago indicates what a crisis the Catholic Church is mired in.

Posted by Theresa on Wednesday, Aug, 21, 2013 12:50 PM (EST):

PS: On OBEDIENCE The vow of obedience is made to God, not to humans or to an institution. Those in authority are there to guide the flock and hopefully they are obedient to the spirit of the gospel. Jesus showed and taught us by his words and by his life how to live the spirit of the law - not the letter of the law. Check it out. Theresa

Posted by Rene on Wednesday, Aug, 21, 2013 11:42 AM (EST):

I appears that the LCWR’s strategy is to keep the lines of communication open until either all the LCWR’s sister have died of old age, Rome gives up, or Christ comes for the second time.

Posted by Duncan Black on Wednesday, Aug, 21, 2013 11:08 AM (EST):

How can these nuns be expected to take anything serious when we have bishops like Thomas Tobin telling us that he voted for pro-abort democrats for 40 years. At the same time he was chastising one of the Kennedy women politicians for doing the same thing and asking her what it “meant to be a Catholic”. No wonder the Pelosis, Bidens and Kennedys of the world feel they can support evil and not have to answer for it. Pro-abortion bishops need to step down.

Posted by Rich on Wednesday, Aug, 21, 2013 9:30 AM (EST):

Shut them down. Shut them down now. They are simply unrepentingly heretical. ‘Nuff said.

Posted by John Hinshaw on Wednesday, Aug, 21, 2013 9:18 AM (EST):

The Church is again offered the opportunity to share in God’s work among us. God is already dealing with the problem of nuns betraying His people by denying vocations. It will be an embarassing story to tell if history can find no record of those in authority taking action to hold the sisters to account.

Posted by Justin on Wednesday, Aug, 21, 2013 9:03 AM (EST):

Just read the “systems thinking handbook”. I had no idea things had gotten that bad.

Posted by Barbara on Wednesday, Aug, 21, 2013 8:33 AM (EST):

Those Sisters seem determined to follow Jesus and the Gospel and act like mature committed Christian women. I do not think “Network” and/or “RCRI” are affiliated with LCWR btw.

Posted by Jim Fitzgerald on Wednesday, Aug, 21, 2013 6:22 AM (EST):

Satan has obviously injected one or more mouthy effective but infected leaders to misdirect this important group of women. They somehow are convinced they are indespensible. They remind me of the disciples who walked away from Jesus in John 6. They said He was too hard to believe. When He asked His apostles if they weren’t also leaving they answered “Lord to whom shall we go?” Perhaps this is why Christ chose only men as His apostles. When push comes to shove men appear to be more obedient which is what the Church needs. These women need to be excommunicated before the “rotten apple” spoils the barrel. They can be readmitted when they accept the teachings of Christ’s Church and beg forgiveness like the rest of us have to do. Their beliefs have disqualified them from the Kingdom of God. God convict them of pride so they become sorrowful, ask forgiveness and be reinstated into Your Kingdom.

Posted by Will in Seattle on Wednesday, Aug, 21, 2013 12:39 AM (EST):

I have had the good fortune to work with many women in orders under the umbrella of the LCWR. They do amazing work across the globe - their service is incredibly laudable. As a Latin-Mass going, traditional Catholic - their theology I have often found problematic. Archbishop Sartain (my bishop here in Seattle) and Bishop Blair (my parish priest when I was a kid) are well equipped to carry out the heavy duties Rome has placed on their shoulders. Prayer - for the sisters and for the bishops - seems a much more positive way for lay Catholics to support this process than threats to withhold donations or blanket condemnations, as some in the comment thread have proposed.

Posted by Bob on Wednesday, Aug, 21, 2013 12:15 AM (EST):

It seems the bishops will do the same thing as they’ve done with the “Catholic” politicians, like Pelosi, Cuomo and Biden, NOTHING.
The laity looks to the bishops for leadership and nothing seems forthcoming - the continuing effects of VII and the church of nice.

Posted by Gabrielle Azzaro on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 10:18 PM (EST):

I am at a loss as to how so many people can comment on the LCWR when they only know what is being reported in the media. Only the man-centered hierarchy of the church is reporting that they are out of line with the church’s teachings. Have any of you who commented here attended any of their conferences? Read any of their literature? Does the fact that they don’t wear habits make them bad? Does the fact that they work with the anawim - the remnant - of the church that the hierarchy doesn’t want to deal with (except the pope) make them bad? Or are they bad simply because they do not follow the party line without question. Let me tell you something…I followed the party line and obeyed without question, and a sister IN A HABIT, belonging to a congregation approved by the Holy See - in fact, chosen by the Vatican to judge all other American sisters - sexually abused me. She was my superior: I was a young sister. BUT, she wore a habit; prayed, ate, and recreated in community; said all the right prayers; and was part of a congregation that believes themselves above those “other” sisters who are part of the LCWR. The leadership of the congregation ordered me to stop therapy after a short while, and when I wouldn’t, transferred me out of state so I had to! Then, when I asked for a year’s leave of absence to continue therapy, I was the one treated like the criminal. So, tell me…what does following the Magisterium of the church really mean???

Posted by Lochlein Sekona on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 10:02 PM (EST):

Obedience is a measurement of our faithfulness to Christ and His Church. Pride often gets in our way, especially if we are the leader’s, and here with the LCWR the talk concentrate on their leadership instead of the members that they represent. I am assuming that they are representing the true voices of the majority, and if that is the case, then may the Lord help them and us. Humility is a good place for the LCWR leadership to start. Being disobedience was not part of their oath.

Posted by Judy Kallmeyer on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 8:21 PM (EST):

Dearest Sisters,

Submit yourselves to the authority of the Church. You have professed a vow of obedience and included in that vow is obedience to the Holy Father and the Magisterium of the Church. To continue to challenge and to resist the teachings of the Church is to resist the will of God, the Son, Who said to the Apostles “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven; and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.” At His transfiguration on Mt. Tabor, the voice of the Father was heard saying “This is my beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him.” Dear Sisters, listen to Him in the voice of the Holy Father and the other Church officials who have jurisdiction over you. Be obedient followers of the Lamb of God and thereby give good example to the People of God who so need your example of fidelity to enforce their own fidelity. If you who are consecrated are unfaithful to the Lord and to the Church, how can the rest of us be faithful! Or maybe the converse is worth considering. Perhaps the faithful laity should give their example to those religious who are straying from the teachings of the Church. If He has chosen the weak to confound the strong, perhaps it is the faithful laity who are to confound those considered to be strong, the consecrated religious.

The Lord expects you to live your vow of obedience. We, the laity, expect to see obedience personified in you. Be the humble handmaids of the Lord in imitation of Mary. Indeed, let us all do the will of the Lord in all things, at all times and in all places. Let us ask the Lord to bring our wills into perfect uniformity with His. In uniformity, the will of God becomes our will rather than our will becoming the will of God. Let us all, but especially our consecrated women, reverse the words of Lucifer, “I will not serve,” to the words of the Virgin Mary and the saints, “Let it be done to me as you have said.”

Posted by Mary E. on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 7:33 PM (EST):

Come on, guys, the LCWR is busy learning important stuff like the ribbon-weaving dance—which sounded curiously like the May Pole Dance—that we read about the other day. They’re weaving their destiny! They can’t take time to read official mandates, etc., which will only make them feel bad and dampen their creative impulses . . . <VBG :-)>.

Posted by Jerry Nieblas on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 6:39 PM (EST):

LCWR you have created quite a mess and a whole lot of scandal and confusion for our Catholic Church today. I feel your mess will negatively impact our Catholic Church for years to come. I often think back on the good sisters of my youth (13 years of Catholic education)and all the positive that they brought into my life and the life of our entire town. They were very much a part of all we did in school and community. They radiated everything that was good about Catholic sisters and I know I am a Catholic today because of them, their teaching, care, love, compassion and good holy example. I can’t say that about you LCWR because I really feel you are a “thorn in the side” of our Church with all your old ” 60s hippie hype” and “new age” thinking. You seem to get great delight in complaining, complaining and then more complaining.
What good/positive memories will you leave for the next generations - not much I think.

Posted by Theresa on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 6:36 PM (EST):

I can’t help but wonder why I sense so much anger and judgment about the motives of the sisters. It doesn’t seem very Catholic Christian. Lucky for all the not-so-great-citizens that Jesus met up with that he was so forgiving and compassionate in his words and actions.
Theresa

Posted by Mary Ann on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 5:26 PM (EST):

Adiós - but I will still be praying for them to come to Jesus.

Posted by Barbara on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 5:07 PM (EST):

It’s always amazing to me that individuals who disagree with the Catholic Church continue to call themselves Catholic. They don’t follow the doctrines, they always know better than the Pope and the Magisterium and apparently in the case of LCWR, God Himself.
I was under the impression that people joined organizations or specific faith communities because they believed in what those stood for and were willing to adhere to their specific rules and regulations.
LCWR continues to openly thumb their nose at the Vatican. It’s time to issue an ultimatum. Come back into the fold, or excommunicate them.

Posted by Clay on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 4:51 PM (EST):

I agree, Patti. I continue to be appalled. They’ve been asked nicely, told directly, and warned sternly. Yet they continue to disrespect the Church’s authority. This has gone so far beyond dissent and so far into scandal that I can’t see any other option to revoke this organization’s canonical standing. I also find it scandalous that our bishops and the Vatican haven’t taken a harder line. This group has been openly teaching against Catholic theology for years. I don’t want anyone excommunicated, but at this point it would be for their own good and the good of the Church, since they obviously will not learn any other way. How long will they be allowed to spread untruth and evil from within the Church?

Posted by charles harmett on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 4:31 PM (EST):

Excommunicate them first. {Get them out of the “building”}. Let them appear on tv as excommunicated catholics. They will make utter fools of themselves. Poetic justice as that is exactly what they have done to the church in the last 40 years. sooner or later we need to clean this mess up so now is a great time to start.

Posted by Bonnie M Roberts on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 4:03 PM (EST):

These women are the Equalivent of the radical feminism in our church as their"sisters” in kind in the secular arena. We all know where that has taken this country - to the destruction of marriage,family,and the destruction of the unborn. No good can come without reform and obedience. In a word - cut off the dead/deadly branch to preserve the tree.

Posted by charles harmett on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 3:47 PM (EST):

This can NEVER be allowed to happen again. Excommunicate them immediately so that their mouths will close and if at all possible cut off and confiscate their money flow, bank accounts, property etc..
Does that sound too draconian? I guarantee that these ladies would not be pulling this nonsense unless they believe themselves invulnerable to their money being cut off. Therein lies the crux of the problem. They became financially independent from the church in general before all of this nunsense started. How HUMILIATING this is for the catholic church which has allowed itself to be mocked in this manner. BREAK these dissident religious orders up now and put into place safeguards to ensure this never happens. My wife, deceased in 2012, and I put a total of 30 years teaching in catholic schools and we had to put up with much of this garbage as it filtered down into the schools. The actions of these nuns have directly and indirectly resulted in the closing of many catholic schools. That is their sin and they bear the blame for it. SHAME ON THESE WOMEN, for all the trouble they have caused.

Posted by Joanne S. on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 3:33 PM (EST):

I’m quite confused as to how these 1,400 leaders were elected to speak for 80% of women religious in this country. Are we to believe that the “rank and file” nun supports this dissent?

It is my understanding that the Vatican has the option of dissolving the LCWR as a canonical group and naming another that is obedient and has the support of the nuns we’re not hearing about!

This constant dissent from every quarter of the church is scandalous. It’s time the church showed some tough love for the sake of all concerned: the rebellious nuns, the laity who are seeing their bad example go unpunished, and the faithful nuns who need to be freed from the clutches of these charlatans.

Posted by Jim Doran on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 3:01 PM (EST):

Reform or be excommunicated! It’s not rocket science!

Posted by Robert A.Rowland on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 2:46 PM (EST):

If they want to automatically excommunicate themselves so be it. They can join the ranks of the three out of four of those who claim to be Catholic that are apostate because they no longer believe in the Real Presence. Is it time to recapture the doctrine and discipline eschewed by the Second Vatican Council and return to the sanity of the First Vatican Council?

Posted by Gloria Schotten on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 2:24 PM (EST):

These crack pot nuns appear to be a lost cause or have Organic Brain Disorder-a form of dementia. They are in that age group; let them go peacefully into la la land. They really need a psychiatric analysis with large doses of TLC, they really have to be pitied. As St Francis de Sales coined, “You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar”. The Vatican has been more patient and generous with them and they have behaving this way for years.

Posted by Michael on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 1:57 PM (EST):

The author of this article and the posters to this article share a common thread: slavish and smug devotion to “conservative” or “traditional” or “authentic” Catholicism. There is no devotion to faith. There is much talk of “obedience,” etc. We are called to a life of faith and holiness…not membership in an exclusive club. I am a lifelong Catholic, yet I never thought in my lifetime that I would witness the degradation of our Church as it was under Pope Benedict. He said he would rather have a smaller church obedient to him than a larger church that was not. There can almost be no greater sin for a pope to commit than that. Jesus sent the apostles out to evangelize, to bring others throughout the world to Him. Not to wear finery and live a lavish lifestyle. Not to appoint themselves as demigods. Yet our Church has been so sullied that we now have monarchs who demand obedience to themselves and abrogate Christ’s calling. For the leader of our Church to reject Christ’s calling, to rebuke his charge to lead evangelization is shameful and a matter of grave sin. The sisters may not be obedient to all that the recent monarchs of our church have determined is required, but by all accounts, they are doing the work that Christ calls us to do. In this article and posts, I see no calling for the sisters to cleave to Christ and his teaching. I see no call to faith. I see no call to a life of holiness. What I see is clericalism, sentimentality, rationalism and romanticism—a loud gong where love should be. Where is your faith? Where is your devotion to Christ and his teachings? Somewhere along the way, you have lost your faith and supplanted it with devotion to the bishops and clergy. You harbor a romantic and sentimental yearning for the way things used to be, when life was simpler, when one’s ego was salved by a cleric telling you that you have been good and will be rewarded in heaven because I said so, because you were devoted and obedient to me. When confronted with their infidelity to Christ, and recognizing that they are in schism with Christ, “conservatives” or “traditional Catholics” or “authentic Catholics” and clergy steeped in clericalism default to rationalism to parrot the teaching of the bishops that they are somehow interpreting God’s plan through tradition. They must do that. They have no choice if they are to keep the self-serving institution the way they want it, especially when confronted with their teachings and practices that are inconsistent with Christ’s teachings. And who told the people that they were the only authentic teachers of faith and morals? Why the bishops themselves. How is that any different than other corrupt monarchs throughout history that made their subjects docile with self-serving demands that they and they alone be followed as self-appointed and divinely-predisposed leaders? That is not the teaching of Christ. That is merely a self-imploding secular club or organization hell-bent on following mortals masquerading as divinely-inspired and divinely-appointed monarchs wearing bigger tassels and more finery. I implore all of you to a life of faith and holiness. Follow Christ. Follow his teachings, not these self-serving men who invoke “tradition” as a justification, a rationalization for turning others away from Christ and to a series of “traditions.” The sisters seem to be aware of these deficiencies and find faith and holiness in following Christ and doing his work, not “traditions” (many of which are not) spewed forth by monarchs. Again, I implore you to put down your weapons, follow Christ, build a Church of love and forgiveness and charity. Repent your sins of anger, condemnation, exclusivity and smugness, of pride. Just as some of his followers were rebuked by Christ when they sought to aggrandize themselves by slavish devotion to the law of the time, you must rebuke these petty “laws” purported to reflect the true Church. Reject the Pharisees’ way and follow Christ.

Posted by Deacon Dan on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 1:49 PM (EST):

How frustrating it is to preach on the Word of God, adhering to Magisterial teachings protected by the Holy Spirit, yet discovering some folks within the pews rely less on what is preached from the pulpit and more on those within the Church who practice “faithful dissent” (now there’s an oxymoron for you!).

Posted by Linda Barnhart on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 1:36 PM (EST):

When a child misbehaves they go to the time out bench. These stiff necked women need a long time out - out of the church. Why do they demand being accepted as Catholic when they are not in agreement with the Church? Is it for financial reasons? If I was so off the mark with Rome & so convinced it was wrong, I would be embarrassed to claim the name. They have five years to get it together? How about five days, a good examination of consience, confession & spend the rest of thier lives in prayer & reparation & keeping a very low profile. I am so tired of hearing thier mouths spout off rediculous “theology”. Someone please make them be quiet.

Posted by SouthCoast on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 1:34 PM (EST):

“Faithful dissent” is twin sibling to “With all due respect”, which, of course, means with no respect at all.

Posted by Julie on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 1:30 PM (EST):

I sincerely hope and pray the women of LCWR respond to the leadership of the Holy Spirit and follow Him in renewal of their organization. However, if they persist in obstinate error and pride, I pray their canonical status will be removed at the end of the five-year deadline. The first scenario is far preferable, but, if they persist in the errors identified by the Vatican, the second scenario will be necessary to ensure they do not continue to place salvation for themselves and those they influence in jeopardy.

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us.

Posted by Theresa on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 1:15 PM (EST):

Evangelical Vows as made by religious women (and men) state in these words, “I do promise and vow to God chastity, poverty and obedience…” Obedience implies an intellect and informed conscience. Obedience to God and conscience are key words.
Theresa

Posted by Lawrence Beaton on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 12:38 PM (EST):

We are sure that these great sisters will continue to discuss and discuss until the cows come home. They are doing themselves and their congregation a disservice.

Posted by tg on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 12:35 PM (EST):

If they were orthodox, they would have been excommunicated years ago when all this began. Sorry for bad attitude toward church leaders but I am sick of seeing liberal religious and priests get away with so much.

Posted by Patti Day on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 12:16 PM (EST):

What more do the sisters need to say to convince Rome that they will not change? Grant them their option out. It is ridiculous to allow them them to maintain canonical standing while they flaunt the Magisterium and Catholic teachings.

Posted by Sam Santucci on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 11:50 AM (EST):

It would seem that the sisters are determined to pursue their own agenda independent of the Magisterium of the church. What ever happened to vows of obedience?

Posted by Madonna Hood on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 11:10 AM (EST):

These women have no intention of doing anything more than continuing on their current path. Everyone knows it.

Posted by Christine on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 11:08 AM (EST):

They do not see the need for reform, because they consider what they are doing is correct in the first place! Exactly the reason for all the double talk.

Posted by Mark Gonzales on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 10:55 AM (EST):

We will see how this enfolds. To me this all looks like a matter of faith formation. The Church has just begun to adopt adult faith formation for laity and clergy. If we are not growing in our faith, we are drifting away from the Lord, His Church, and the Sacred. I pray that all the faithful seek the faith through our Holy Catholic Church, and renew the face of the Earth. The New Evangelization has begun…

Posted by David Manly on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 10:54 AM (EST):

It doesn’t look good.

Posted by Toan Tran on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 10:48 AM (EST):

Why don’t they build a new religion denomination?
First time, I know them in Quebec in Canada. About year 2000, I went back to the church where I usually attended mass 3 years before when I came there to work, I saw the attending faithful about under 20 attendees, and at the alta, I saw women wore like deacons. This church usually had about 450 attendees before when I was there.—After mass I went to the back pew I saw a LCWR magazine on the desk with the picture of those leaders at that time. I read a news in it and saw their goal for 5 or 10 years thereon they wanted 50% on every level Catholic church hierarchy must be women. I don’t know now their goal has been reached.

Posted by Tim on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 10:43 AM (EST):

Delay, delay, delay. LCWR has no interest in reform or being in Communion with the Vatican, they are clearly testing the resolve of Church leadership and likely hoping that Pope Francis will take a softer stance with them. Mary Queen of Peace pray for us!

Posted by Lucy Dartley on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 10:31 AM (EST):

The LCWR, as it is now is definitely not what anyone in the Catholic Church would expect from “consecrated women”. The leaders know exactly what the mandate from Rome ( CDF ) means and pleading ignorance of the doctrines of Holy Mother Church is a pitiful excuse.The way these women behave and the absurd belief system they practice is almost, if not, heretical.I do not think the Bishops working with them have a chance at any reform with them. They are a danger to young women seeking a true vocation.

Posted by Steve on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 10:16 AM (EST):

I think the Vatican has been more than patient enough. I would recommend that the approach of Bishop Bruskewitz be taken, and the LCWR be given one month to either toe the line or be excommunicated, latiae sententiae. Plain and simple. You’re either in the barque of Peter, or you’ve jumped overboard. The Church is giving them a chance to climb back in the boat. If they, through their obvious pride refuse, then excommunication is the charitable thing to do, in order to point out to them that they are NOT in communion with the Body of Christ! No more walking on eggshells around them. No more tiptoeing around the tulips. Get in, or get out. Period.

Posted by Jon on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 10:06 AM (EST):

Faithful dissent. Very sneaky term invention. Unfortunately I think Cardinal Aviz has a similar sympathetic understanding of obedience…one which “doesn’t command.” Asking nicely instead of commanding…Not quite sure how else its possible to bring about an end of misrepresenting Catholic teaching by these sisters in the U.S… I’m mean there’s always natural law that error consumes itself…but how many people are they going to take with them in the meantime?

Posted by esse on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 9:52 AM (EST):

Dear Bishops: Get these women in line or my $$$$ will not go into the collection plate. Destroy the Church, and the salvation of souls, with your own money.
Susan Maita

Posted by Sally on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 9:40 AM (EST):

By their fruits we shall know them. If God wants these religious orders to continue, he will bring them new vocations. However, if the leaders of these congregations continue to hold onto theological errors and a right to dissent and not make any changes, the lack of new members will soon lead to extinction. I cannot understand why there is such a lack of obedience and cooperation among this group of religious women.

Posted by DAVE on Tuesday, Aug, 20, 2013 9:27 AM (EST):

“Pick a little, talk a little, pick a little talk a little; cheep cheep cheep, talk a lot, pick a little more…” and so on.

This is the MO of the revisionist/revolters/progressives: let’s just “talk” them to death until they get tired of talking and leave us alone. I think Francis Cardinal George’s comment from his open letter to critics last month (over pulling funding from an immigration “lobby” group that overstepped their mission) “Jesus is merciful; but he is not stupid.”

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